Morecambe Preview

22 November 2013

We look forward to tomorrow's big game

We look ahead to this Saturday's big home match against Morecambe.

Team News

United have suffered a major injury blow with the news that Andy Whing will be out until at least January. The midfielder limped off with an ankle injury at Mansfield last week and will be out until the New Year. Manager Chris Wilder told Yellow Player:

"It's not great for us or for Andy but he will be out, along with Alfie Potter and Jon Meades until the middle of January at least. Deane Smalley is out for Saturday as well and is ten days to two weeks away, a similar time to Jake Wright. We will just have to get on with it. I was delighted that Dave Kitson and James Constable held their hands up and wanted to play at Gateshead in midweek but that game being called off has given them a few extra days to recover from knocks, so hopefully they will be OK for the weekend, and Asa Hall is available again as well."

See the full interview plus a full-length Preview Show and the thoughts of Michael Raynes in Yellow Player.

The Opposition

United weren't the only ones who had a fruitless journey to Gateshead on Wednesday night. Morecambe boss Jim Bentley also made the trek across country to scout on the U's.

“We went to Gateshead on Wednesday night hoping that Oxford would have to play," he said. “You’re always hoping that one or two of their star players might pick up a niggle on a heavy pitch or would get sent off so that they wouldn't be able to play us tomorrow.

“Unfortunately the game was called off and we all had to go home.

“The Oxford team coach was right behind as we pulled up at the Give Way sign outside the ground.

“So they have had to travel all the way up and they've had to prepare for the game, but the only thing is they didn't play so it hasn't really taken anything out of the players.

“They would not have got back at three or four o'clock in the morning, like they would have done if they had played.

“Instead they would have got back at 11 or 12 o'clock at night.

“We know how difficult it is when you have a Wednesday night match and then a game on the Saturday.

“It would have affected their preparations for the game against us a little bit and we felt that would have played into our hands.

“These things happen – it was just a waste of seven hours of mine and Ken’s lives.”

Tickets

Tickets are available at advance prices via the phones or via www.oufctickets.co.uk where you can pick your exact seat and see the approximate view from that seat. The phonelines are open on 01865 337533 or call in person at the Ticket Office.

Getting Here

Thinking of coming along and need to know more about parking, buses and public transport? Then click HERE.

Special Guest

United skipper Jake Wright is guest of honour and will be talking to fans in a Q&A session in the 12th Man Bar from 1.40pm.

Be well read...

This Saturday's matchday magazine features United scoring legend Graham Atkinson talking about the man chasing his record, James Constable. It also carries a full-length interview with Asa Hall, while Australian winger Ryan Williams tells us about his route into the game. Michael Raynes discusses football management and everyone's favourite columnist, Fantastic Mr Ox, talks about his OCD.

We also have a very special feature in Saturday's magazine. Our guests on the day are Stonesfield Strikers, one of our Partner Clubs, and to mark their visit we have scattered through the magazine a number of their badges. Can you find them all? This is just for fun, but our Competitions page carries some great prizes, including copies of The Killers' new album, copies of Football Manager 2014 and a Family Meal for four at the Aziz Express.

All this, and much, much more can be yours for just £3 (including a copy of Saturday's Oxford Mail, while stocks last) from sellers around the ground. Or visit our website at www.matchdayfix.co.uk to download a copy - available from 9am on Saturday to subscribers or 1pm to everyone else.

The Big Walk

The Yellow Army will be on manoeuvres as fans walk to the game to raise funds for the 12th Man and for Helen and Douglas House.

Milk Cup heros Alan Judge and Les Phillips and club director Adrian Lenagan will join U's fans in the Yellow Army Big Walk before the Morecambe match at home.

Around 20 Yellow Army trekkers will set off from Woodstock, Cholsey, Eynsham and Thame.

You can still sign up to take part in what promises to be a memorable experience with fellow yellows and legends and help make a difference for two fantastic causes.

Please email walk@ox12thman.org.uk for further details on the route you'd like to take part in and you'll be put in touch with the walk leader. Equally you can donate to the fund raising pot via the 12th Man website.

Coverage

If you can't be with us then try out Yellow Player, where we have commentary of the whole game live, plus video interviews with all the key men and match highlights for you to see.

Yellow Player is the ONLY place on the internet that you can hear the game online; join us for all the action.

Betting

There is a £1m jackpot on the Super 6 this week at SKY BET. This is an incredibly popular FREE to play challenge and with a MILLION pounds up for grab a minute of your time could change your life.

If you are going to have a bet on that then be sure to do it RIGHT HERE as the club makes money with every single sign up, and every bet you subsequently place.

Join the £5 Free Bet Club you get a FREE £5 BET every week - Place a £5 accumulator on any sport with combined odds of 5/1 or more before midnight Sunday. Your £5 free bet will then be credited by 7pm Monday for you to use on any sport.

The U’s are a mean 10/11 to win on Saturday with the draw 12/5 but there are 53 different markets to have a bet on with some great odds, including:

www.oufc.co.uk is the perfect place to follow all the action. The official website will have:

- Full team news

- Read a full match report the very second the final whistle blows

- See a full gallery of all the key moments

- See highlights and the manager and key players give their reactions in Yellow Player

- SMS subscribers get all the action straight to their mobiles.

- Or follow @OUFClive on Twitter for all the action wherever you are.

Bring On The Wall

We will continue to test the capabilities of our brand new web feature The Wall throughout Saturday's game. Log on and join the experiment.

Fifty/50

Make sure you buy a Fifty-50 lottery ticket to be in with a chance of winning a big cash prize. Tickets are on sale all around the ground including from the concourse programme sellers, with the draw at half-time.